Traffic warning for V Festival revellers

Roads in Essex are expected to be busier than normal this weekend as tens of thousands of music fans head to V Festival - and Highways England says it is doing its best to keep disruption to a minimum.

The event at Hylands Park in Chelmsford is expected to attract more than 70,000 people from 21 to 23 August.

Festival-goers and road users travelling through the area are being advised to plan journeys before setting out.

No road closures are planned just yet, although that could change in the run-up to the weekend.

The A12 near Chelmsford is expected to be much busier than normal, along with the M11 junctions 7 to 9, and M25 junctions 29 to 28.

Highways England has been working with event organisers, the police and other partners for several months, in a bid to ensure music fans and locals can get from A to B as quickly and smoothly as possible.

The campsite opens at midday on Friday and closes at midday on Monday.

The run-ups to and from these times are likely to be particularly busy, as music fans arrive early and stay late for what is the 20th anniversary of V Festival.

Nigel Allsopp, emergency planning officer at Highways England, says festival-goers and road users in the area should plan ahead.